May 1925
TH E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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F I N E G O L D OR TH E P E A R L OF G R E A T P R I C E JOSEPHINE HOPE WESTERVELT 1
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(Continued from last month) CHAPTER 5 A KNIGHT’S .ARMOR
dicate their honor and strength; many a noble knight was killed or wounded in a needless fight, which had no other aim than supremacy in view,” said Uncle Jack, entering seriously, as he often did, into these discussions with his adopted son. “Well, I’d be the kind of knight that righted the wrongs of thos’e that were popr and in distress and imposed upon,” was Billie Bob’s answer. “You can be that kind of a knight now any day you want to, for there are thousands of people needing just such an advocate as you would like to be,” said Uncle Jack. “But I want the armor and weapons, and they don’t have them now,” parried the boy. “Yes, they do,” said Uncle Jack as he reached over to the table and drew toward him a Bible. Turning to that won derful sixth chapter of Ephesians he read the verses about putting on “the whole armor of Go ACK HARMON was an earnest Christian man, and at the time that his chum and friend, Will. More house, wanted to go as a missionary to South America, he also wanted to go and applied to the board. But he had been rejected because of a serious phys ical disability. It was a keen disappointment to him not to be allowed to go, but it had not embittered him. He still retained his love for missions and did what he could for their advancement. This interest colored his influence over the child in his care, often unconsciously to himself. It was’ so much a part of his life that it assumed n importance in Billie Bob’s mind. Then, too, the lad 1 w that his father had wanted to be a missionary, and he dored the memory of his loved father. Billie Bob had reached the stage in his reading when he was completely absorbed in tales and plays of knighthood. They were read ing the stories at school, and various books in Uncle Jack’s library enabled him to acquire more knowledge of the subject. He spent his odd moments making fancy swords, spears, and shields, and he even attempted armor. The boys indulged in jousts and tour neys during their play time at school. It is true that their swords, spears and shields were of wood, but that in no way lessened their enjoyment of the fun. Indeed, they spent hours, in the aggre gate, decorating their weapons, and had some really clever work as a result. plate, the shield, the helmet, even to the “sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.” “God invites you to put on His armor, which he so willingly provides, and He longs to have you go forth in that armor and do deeds in His name and for His honor’s sake,” said Uncle Jack quietly at the end. He said no more at that time about the “Christian’s armor,” but talked over in friendly manner the book Billie Bob was reading. Billie Bob, with several other boys, had just a few months before confessed Christ as their Saviour, and joined the church, so he felt sure the child would There is no need for any one to waste his time in idle pining for some great thing to do, for all around is opportunity, and one may do as great deeds as he is able. God wants brave men and women in His service. One evening Billie Bob was looking up new designs for shields for several other boys, as he had the best facilities for doing so and thoroughly enjoyed the self- imposed task. After a time he came over to where Uncle Jack was busy reading, and sitting on the arm of the chair, he slid his arm around his uncle’s neck, laying his head against that of the companion he so often sought when he had things to talk over; Uncle Jack was rarely too busy to be consulted. “Uncle Jack, I wish there were real knights now, or I wish I lived in those old days when men were knighted. I should like to be a knight,” were Billie Bob’s first words. “Why?” was all his uncle replied. “Oh, because I’d like to ride forth in shining armor with glistening weapons and fight in tourneys and jousts,” was the boy’s reply. “But what good would you accomplish in such work? These olden knights for the most part, simply fought for their honor’s sake, or for trivial reasons. It is true some of them accomplished deeds of helpfulness and good, and fought for noble causes, but for the most part it was to vin think his words over later. Some months after, when the cold winter weather k e p t' the boys indoors much of the time, especially in the even ings, Billie Bob found Prescott’s ‘¡‘Conquest of Peru” an enthralling tale. Night after night he pored over the wrongs of those old peoples, the “Incas.” Billie Bob grew indignant and angry at those old Spanish conquerors who heaped such indignities upon those peaceful people. Uncle Jack, watching him, soon knew he would not keep still much longer, and true enough he soon laid the book down and angrily strode over to his uncle. “Uncle Jack, why did they do those terrible deeds?” he asked, without stopping to think that his uncle might not understand what he was speaking about. But Uncle Jack had been waiting for this moment, for when he saw that the boy was reading this book he knew what the result was bound to be. No boy can read the history of those, cruelly murdered and down-trodden people and not feel indignant over it. (Continued on page 237)
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